West Ham United will be looking to provide one of the shocks of the season on Wednesday night as they travel to Stamford Bridge hoping to claim a vital win over Chelsea.
The Hammers are placed as rank outsiders for the game with some bookies offering 20/1 for an away win.
The Irons last away victory at the Bridge came thanks to a bit of Italian magic from Paolo Di Canio as his two goals (one an absolute stunner from 30 yards) helped West Ham to a 3-2 win in the 2002/03 season.
Sam Allardyce will hope his two latest recruits Italians Marco Borriello and Antonio Nocerino can provide a Di Canioesque moment of magic to create a memorable night in West London.
Recruited from Roma and AC Milan, respectively the Italians will be thrown in at the deep end should they both get a run out, with Nocerino far more likely to receive a start than his Italian counterpart.
There is good news though for the Hammers with Andy Carroll now fully fit and the returning Ricardo Vaz Te and Winston Reid, with lengthy injury list that has hampered the Irons is now shortening meaning positivity within the club is at an all-time high.
The East end club will take inspiration from fellow London club Queens Park Rangers who went to Stamford Bridge last year and won 1-0 with a lionhearted performance that will live long in the memories of those hoops fans. If the Hammers could pull a result of a similar nature it will be a shot in the arm for the Hammers survival hopes.
In his Monday morning press conference Allardyce told gathering press that the Hammers have to go to Chelsea and try to win.
He said: “We can’t go to Chelsea and think that we’re not going to get a result. When all said and done, West Bromwich Albion should have beaten Chelsea this season. In a one-off game, if you play to your best and Chelsea aren’t functioning at their best, then you can get to the end result like West Brom did. It can be achieved at any one-time in any one-game and we’ve got to believe that it can be achieved.”
Chelsea meanwhile will look to make it thirteen unbeaten at Stamford Bridge with just that 2-2 draw against West Bromwich Albion the only blip on an otherwise perfect home league record this season.
Jose Mourinho has a strong squad, and despite playing on Sunday against Stoke City in the FA Cup will still have a strong squad to choose from, and has this week added Basel winger Mohamed Salah to his ranks.
The Egyptian international will look to impress should he get his chance against West Ham, and the Hammers full backs will have to be on their toes to keep him at bay. Salah could be the least of West Ham’s worries though should Hazard, Oscar and co get going.
Chelsea will go into this game full of confidence and will look back over at the fine record over West Ham in the past, and look back to their fine win over the Hammers at Upton Park this season and believe that this should be another routine home win.
Ahead of the clash Mourinho warned his team against complacency as the Hammers have been unfortunate with injuries and he is expecting a “difficult game” against the East end club.
He said: “I see a difficult match against West Ham. [They have] New players, fewer injuries, [they’ve had] time to work and rest after a difficult Christmas period.”
It is a game that in truth the Hammers faithful travel with little expectations, but in the Premier League anyone can beat anyone, and it would be a huge result for West Ham United if they could pull off the impossible.
Team news:
Chelsea: Mohammed Salah and Nemanja Matic could be set for their first Premier League start, but Fernando Torres remains missing for the Blues.
West Ham: James Collins, George McCartney and Joey O’Brien all return to the squad to bolster the back four, whilst new signings Antonio Nocerino and Marco Borriello could be in line for the their first starts in claret and blue.
How to get there: The nearest tube station is Fulham Broadway which is on the District Line. Take a tube to Earls Court and if necessary, change for a Wimbledon bound tube. The nearest over ground train station is West Brompton, which is served by trains from Clapham Junction (which is in turn served by trains from London Waterloo and Victoria stations).
Where to drink: The Courtfield Tavern, and many others in the Earl Court area.
Bowdenwhu Predicts: Chelsea 3 West Ham United 1
Tweet me @Bowdenwhu
Come on you Irons!
